Majors & Minors

Students can declare a major, second major, or minor with an online declaration form.

Students enter American University with an intended major or as undecided student. By the end of sophomore year, each student should be ready to formally declare a major in the school offering the program in which they wish to major.

To declare a major within the College of Arts and Sciences, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is needed, though some programs may require higher GPAs. Please check the course catalog for program details.

To declare a major or minor in the College of Arts and Sciences, please complete the online declaration form. Your request will be reviewed by an authorized staff person, and they will assign you a faculty advisor once you are approved. This person will serve as your primary advisor for the major/minor. If you are not approved for your major, you will be notified via email. Once you are approved, you will receive an email confirming that your major/minor declaration has been processed. Please call the advising office with any questions at 202-885-2453.

The process is the same for second majors and minors. Please know that your first major must be declared before a second major or minor can be added. If you have two majors in different schools at AU, your primary advising will come from the school in which your first major is housed. For example, a major in international affairs and history is advised in the School of International Service, while a major in history and government is advised in the College of Arts and Sciences.